Yet as she slowly found and met his rhythm, felt the needy grasp of his hand at her hip and his other at her breast, excitement zinged through her. She’d always assumed sex in this position would be all about a guy’s pleasure, not the woman’s. She’d been wrong.
For when Adoni had turned her over onto her stomach and lifted her hips, driving into her with a power that rocked her on her knees, she’d waited to feel used. Instead, with his shaky hands, so at odds with the determined rhythm of his body, he worshipped and caressed. She felt his dominance but at the same time every breath, every shudder proclaimed his need for her.
Everything he did with her in bed made her feel glorious.
Adoni’s breath was hot on the back of her neck as his pace picked up, his thighs jolting against her with each quick thrust. Alice lifted one hand from the bed and covered his hand, pressing it harder against her breast. Over the thud of her pulse she heard his breath hiss. That smooth rhythm fractured as he shuddered, and she bit down on a smile.
Then his hand at her hip slid down to her slick centre on his next thrust. She felt teeth graze the place where her neck met her shoulder and abruptly her self-satisfaction disintegrated. Out of nowhere, rapture took her, sucking her under just as it took Adoni. The bright morning light cracked into a thousand shards of brilliance.
Afterwards Alice lay spent. Adoni drew the sheet over her and all but vaulted out of bed. She wondered at his energy as her eyes slid shut. Was it pregnancy that made her so lethargic, or the unaccustomed sex?
She listened to the shower and wished she had the strength to get up and join Adoni. Exhausted as she was, she longed to explore his body again. Who knew what possibilities there’d be as she slicked soap over him?
Not that he’d invited her to join him but—
Why would he? You’ve already given him what he wants.
Did she really think anything had changed? He didn’t believe she’d been a virgin. He believed she’d slept with David for money. He probably thought she’d put out because that was what women did—gave men sex to get what they wanted.
Because, tellingly, despite his sometimes protective attitude, Adoni had never retracted that allegation. It hovered between them, making her feel sullied when she thought of it.
He probably thinks last night was you softening him up for the discussion you’re due to have about the baby.
Alice jack-knifed up in the bed and clamped a hand to her mouth, horror filling her. Could that be true? Her gaze fixed on the bathroom door.
After all they’d shared Adoni hadn’t kissed her or touched her before getting out of bed. He hadn’t uttered a word. Suddenly that seemed important.
For the first time this week nausea churned through her. But it wasn’t morning sickness.
Desperately Alice replayed last night’s events. Adoni had spoken of wanting her, needing her, that was all. There’d been mutual pleasure, but maybe that was about masculine pride in ensuring his partner was satisfied.
And the pang of delight and emotion that had ploughed through her when he’d spoken of their baby, kissed her belly and made love to her so wondrously?
Alice gnawed her lip.
Her emotions were unbalanced with pregnancy hormones. She’d believed Adoni had begun to feel something for her, mirroring her own growing feelings for him.
Yet there was no evidence of that. He felt strongly about the baby and he’d been kind when she was sick. But he’d brought her across a continent, far from any friends who’d help her stand up to him, when it was time to clinch a deal on their child’s future. At the very first opportunity he’d seduced her, taken her into his bed as easily as if it was to be expected, not the momentous turning point it had been for her.
Alice’s legs were appallingly wobbly when she planted her feet on the floor and stood.
Behind her water still gushed in the bathroom. Her revelation had taken mere minutes.
Stumbling, swerving to grab her faded old nightdress from the floor, she made her way via the terrace to her room. Now the elation had ebbed she felt stiff and achy, and more miserable than she’d been in weeks.
They’d had sex only because Adoni believed her to be available...easy.
She’d never felt soused. So sullied. So stupid.
Carefully she locked the doors to both the balcony and the hall, then crept into the bathroom.
She didn’t want to see Adoni for a long, long time.